Apnea of infancy and sudden infant death syndrome
J. G. Brooks
The sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death of
infants between the end of the first month and the first year of life. The
risk of SIDS is increased in subsequent siblings of infants with SIDS,
infants with apnea of infancy (AI), and prematurely born infants. The cause
of SIDS is unknown, but much clinical and investigative attention has been
directed toward AI as a possible premortem expression of the abnormality
that can potentially cause SIDS. Both AI and SIDS probably have multiple
different mechanisms. Some infants with AI have been shown to have abnormal
control of respiration. This article is intended to summarize the
relationship between AI and SIDS and to review the published physiologic
studies about AI. I present and discuss a system for evaluation and
"treatment" of patients with AI.
